Company timeline

1861.05.18 Creation of the Montreal City Passenger Railway Company, first public transit company in Montréal

1861.09.18 Construction of the tramway network begins

1861.11.27 First tramway line put into service on today’s Notre-Dame Street

1864.06.10 Tramway lines put into service on St. Catherine Street and St. Lawrence Boulevard

1865.06.13 The company no longer allows drivers to stop and wait for passengers who stepped off to run an errand

1866.05.16 One-day strike by motormen and stable men, the first strike in the history of public transit in Montreal

1872.10.17 Tramway service cancelled because of a horse flu epidemic

1886.06.21 The Montreal City Passenger Railway Company becomes the Montreal Street Railway Company

1892.09.21 The Rocket, first electric tramway put into service

1894.02.06 Transfer tickets put to the test

1894.10.27 Tramway network entirely powered by electricity

1898.09.16 Fire at Hochelaga tramway sheds

1900.07 Longer, more spacious, double truck tramways put into service

1901.08.06 The suburban network of the Park & Island Railway Company is bought by the Montreal Street Railway Company

1903.10.01 Creation of the Montreal Street Railway Company’s Mutual Benefit Association

1905.05.04 Inauguration of the Pay As You Enter (PAYE) tramway, the first public transit vehicle in which passengers pay when they board

1905.06 First observation tramway put into service

1907.07.01 The Montreal Street Railway Company takes over the suburban network of the Montreal Terminal Railway Company

1911.03.24 Creation of the Montreal Tramways Company, merging all public transit companies on the island of Montreal

1911.10 The company’s first repair shops open at the Youville yards

1913.07.01 No-smoking regulation implemented aboard tramways, with a few exceptions

1918.01.28 Establishment of the Montreal Tramways Commission

1919.11.22 The Montreal Tramways Company’s first buses are put into service on today’s Bridge Street

1924.01.13 Tramways now display their route number

1924.02.01 First tramways operated by only one employee (solotrams)

1925.08 Creation of a bus division at the Montreal Tramways Company

1925.12.20 Craig terminus opens on today’s St. Antoine Street

1926.03.01 Opening of the Mont-Royal tramway sheds

1927.11.15 The first traffic light in Montreal undergoes testing in front of the Craig terminus

1928.02.01 Buses now stop at designated locations only

1929.07 The Montreal Tramways Company moves its offices to 159 Craig Street West (today’s St. Antoine St. West)

1930.07.12 Tramway line introduced into service on Mount Royal

1931.05.08 The Montreal Tramways Company begins bus service in Longueuil

1931.06.21 Bus service begins on St. Helen's Island

1936.10.29 First major replacement of tramways by buses

1937.03.29 First modern trolleybus service in Canada, on Beaubien Street

1941.08.13 During World War II, the federal government names a Transit Controller

1941.12 Inauguration of the Bellechasse bus garage

1943.10.18 First vehicles entirely dedicated to advertising for Victory Bonds

1944.03.22 President’s Conference Committee (PCC) tramway introduced into service, last tramway model used in Montreal

1947.09 Opening of the Villeray bus garage

1947.12.31 Public transit ridership in Montreal reaches new heights with 398 349 773 passengers for the year

1948.07 Opening of the Crémazie plant

1950.08.24 Establishment of the Commission de transport de Montréal (CTM), a public body destined to replace the Montreal Tramways Company

1951.06.16 Appropriation of Montreal Tramways Company assets

1955.06.27 Creation of a first express bus service on St. Denis Street

1956.09.04 Inauguration of the Frontenac garage

1957.12 Opening of the Saint-Michel garage, today’s Centre de transport adapté (paratransit)

1959.08.30 Montreal’s last tramways are pulled out of service, an event marked by a large parade

1959.12.14 First New Look buses introduced into service

1961.05.18 Ceremonies marking the centennial of public transit in Montreal

1961.10.20 The City of Montreal presents its blueprint for the métro network

1961.11.03 Montreal’s municipal council approves $132 million to build the métro

1962.02.14 Unveiling of the first modern bus shelter

1962.04.25 The first contract to build the métro is awarded to the Foundation and Charles Duranceau companies

1962.05.23 Construction of the métro’s initial network begins

1963.02.01 Establishment of public transit service in St. Leonard

1963.06.11 The City of Montreal  announces the creation of the métro’s Line 4 linking Montreal to Longueuil

1963.08.06 The City of Montreal raises the budget for the métro to $213 million and awards the contract to build 369 MR-63 métro cars to Canadian Vickers

1965.08.24 Canadian Vickers delivers the first MR-63 métro cars to the City of Montreal

1965.11.27 Fare zones abolished to allow for full fare integration between bus and métro

1966.02.14 Take-over of Inter-Cité Ltée bus company activities in Rivière-des-Prairies and south sector of Cité de Jacques-Cartier

1966.04.11 Take-over of transportation services provided by Ville d’Anjou

1966.06.18 The last trolley bus retires at St. Denis garage

1966.09.26 New transit tickets are introduced prior to métro inauguration

1966.10.14 Official inauguration of the Montreal métro

1966.10.17 The métro’s arrival leads to a complete overhaul of bus services

1966.12.19 Frontenac station opens on métro’s 1 - Green line

1966.12.21 Beaudry station opens on métro’s 1 – Green line

1967.02.06 Square-Victoria station opens on métro’s 2 – Orange line

1967.02.13 Bonaventure station opens on métro’s 2 – Orange line

1967.03.31 Inauguration of métro’s 4 – Yellow line to Longueuil

1967.05.06 During Expo 67, some 418 000 visitors go through the turnstiles at Île-Sainte-Hélène station in a single day

1967.12.20 A glass panel by Frédéric Back is unveiled at Place-des-Arts métro station, the first work of art in métro’s underground gallery

1969.02.18 Removal of the last overhead cable used to power tramways and trolleybuses

1970.01.01 The CTM becomes the Commission de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal (CTCUM)

1970.09.09 The very first Origin-Destination survey is initiated

1971.02.13 New St. Denis bus garage opens

1971.03.04 During Montreal’s «storm of the century », the métro runs all night for the first time

1971.10.14 Construction of the métro extensions gets underway

1971.12.09 Fire in tail tracks section of Henri-Bourassa station

1973.01 Legendre bus garage opens

1974.01.23 Fire aboard a métro train between Laurier and Rosemont stations

1974.03.13 Blue and white colour scheme chosen for buses

1974.05.31 Bombardier wins contract to build 423 MR-73 métro cars

1974.06.25 Introduction of first Métrobus service on Newman Boulevard in LaSalle

1974.06.26 Introduction of reduced fare for persons 65 years and over

1974.11.04 The Montreal métro greets the billionth passenger in its history

1974.12.28 Payment of exact fare required aboard buses

1975.02.05 Creation of the Fire Prevention department

1975.11.30 Aéroservice begins between Mirabel and Montreal, as well as between Mirabel and Dorval airports

1976.07.02 Bombardier delivers the first MR-73 métro cars

1976.07.04 Official inauguration of stations from Préfontaine to Honoré-Beaugrand on the 1 – Green line

1976.07.23 During the Olympic Games, métro daily ridership reaches record level with 747 083 passengers

1976.11.08 Introduction of métro auto-pilot on 1 – Green line

1977.01 Launch of  the «Il fait beau dans le métro» campaign

1977.09.26 Francine Maltais becomes first woman to drive a CTCUM bus

1978.09.03 Inauguration of stations from Lionel-Groulx to Angrignon on the 1 – Green line

1980.01.14 A-U-T-O-B-U-S information line begins operations

1980.04.01 Introduction of the CAM bus and métro fare card

1980.04.01 The CTCUM begins providing transportation services for the handicapped within its territory

1980.04.28 Inauguration of stations from Lucien-L’Allier to Place-Saint-Henri on the 2 – Orange line

1980.10.18 The CTCUM serves 61 of Montreal’s suburban municipalities

1980.11.10 Regular CTCUM bus service begins in Montreal’s West Island

1981.03.31 Lisette Renaud becomes the first woman to operate a métro

1981.09.09 Inauguration of stations from Vendôme to Snowdon on the 2 – Orange line

1981.12.14 Public library opens inside McGill station

1982.01.04 Côte-Sainte-Catherine station opens on the 2 – Orange line

1982.06.30 Plamondon station opens on the 2 – Orange line

1982.07.01 Trial period for permit to carry a bicycle in the métro

1982.07.01 Montréal/Deux-Montagnes commuter train line integrated into Montreal transit network

1982.10.01 Montréal/Rigaud commuter train line integrated into Montreal transit network

1983.01.03 Anjou bus garage opens

1983.02.27 First association of métro musicians

1983.05.27 First Classic bus delivered

1984.01.09 Inauguration of stations from Namur to Du Collège on the 2 – Orange line

1984.09.11 A visit by Pope John-Paul II brings ridership to 2 million people in a single day, a new record

1985.03.04 Saint-Laurent garage opens, while Charlevoix et Saint-Paul garages close down

1985.05.31 Vendôme intermodal station opens

1985.06.20 The CTCUM becomes the Société de transport de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal (STCUM)

1986.06.11 Inauguration of stations from De Castelnau to Saint-Michel on the 5 – Blue line

1986.10.24 Inauguration of Côte-Vertu station on the 2 – Orange line

1987.06.09 Inauguration of Parc station on the 5 – Blue line

1987.06.11 Adoption of an equal opportunity policy (Plan d’accès à l’égalité)

1987.07.14 The « flood of the century » hits Montreal

1987.11.09 Swipe-card turnstiles undergo testing in the métro

1988.01.01 Berri-De Montigny station becomes Berri-UQAM, while Guy station becomes Guy-Concordia

1988.01.05 Inauguration of stations from Côte-des-Neiges to Outremont on the métro’s 5 – Blue line

1988.01.05 Introduction of night time bus network

1988.03.28 Acadie station opens on the 5 – Blue line

1989.10 Launch of the «Voyager en paix» campaign

1990.01.01 Introduction of a regional fare card

1990.02 First park & ride opens next to Radisson station

1990.05 Installation of maps begins in all métro stations, depicting immediate surroundings of each station

1990.06.18 Establishment of reserved lanes for buses on Pie-IX Boulevard

1990.07.09 The contract to refit the 336 MR-63 métro cars is awarded to CN’s shops (AMF)

1991.05.25 The Government of Québec withdraws from funding public transportation

1991.07.03 Electronic display system first appears inside a few métro cars

1992.03 Launch of ad campaign themed «Prendre le transport en commun, c’est intelligent»

1992.09.08 Establishment of reserved lanes for buses on Avenue du Parc, Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest and Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges

1992.10.08 A first multiservice centre opens at Berri-UQAM station

1992.11.09 Initial distribution of Planibus timetables in their current format

1993.04.30 STCUM begins relocating its administrative staff to Place Bonaventure

1993.08.30 Introduction of TELBUS information system

1994.08 Launch of tourist fare card, the Carte touristique

1995.01.09 LaSalle garage opens, while Namur and Saint-Henri garages close down

1995.01.27 STCUM employees and pensioners take to the streets with their Réchaud-bus for first time

1996.01.01 Administration of commuter train operations transferred to Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT)

1996.06 Introduction of the Between Stops service (Entre deux arrêts) for women riding the bus alone in the evening

1996.12.18 First low-floor bus (APS) presented to the media

1997.04.17 Launch of the company’s Internet site

1997.06.16 Introduction of the first Trainbus lines, the 261 – Trainbus Saint-Charles and the 268 – Trainbus Pierrefonds

1998.01.05 The infamous «ice storm» hits Montreal

1998.08.24 Introduction of wheelchair-accessible bus service on three bus routes

1998.09.18 Introduction of a weekly fare card, the CAM hebdo

2000.01.01 To ring in the year 2000, buses and métro provide free service all night

2000.05.10 The STCUM decides to change the name of Île-Sainte-Hélène station to Jean-Drapeau

2001.03.01 A free daily newspaper is handed out in the métro for the first time

2002.01.01 The STCUM becomes the Société de transport de Montréal (STM)

2002.01.01 The reduced fare is extended to students 18 to 25 years old

2002.03.18 Construction work to extend the métro to Laval begins

2002.03.25 Launch of the Biobus project promoting the use of biodiesel

2002.04.16 Launch of the Fare Sales and Collection project, aimed at deploying a new system using smart card technology

2003.09.04 Entrance to Square-Victoria station featuring the entourage Guimard reopens

2003.09.26 Longueuil station becomes Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke

2003.11.10 New A-U-T-O-B-U-S and STM-INFO telephone numbers are unveiled

2004.03.22 Launch of Phase I of the Réno-Systèmes program aimed at maintaining the reliability of the métro’s stationary equipment

2004.09.27 Métrovision’s urban television is launched in the métro

2005.03.10 Online staff recruitment is initiated

2005.06.08 Launch of Green Driving project

2005.11.18 STM announces the refitting of 423 MR-73 métro cars by its maintenance personnel

2005.12 The replacement of fare boxes aboard buses begins

2006.06.06 Pilot project for shuttle service for seniors

2007.04.26 Inauguration of Cartier, de la Concorde and Montmorency stations, in Laval, on the 2 – Orange line

2007.10.04 Inauguration of a new, underground fire prevention training centre (CFSPI)

2008.01.07 Introduction of PASTEC, a public transit service improvement program

2008.04.21 Launch of OPUS smart card

2008.04.21 Road-testing of biodiesel-electric hybrid drive buses begins

2008.04.28 Roll-out of new magnetic fare card begins

2008.12.06 Family Outings program presented to public

2009.05.07 New corporate brand image, Society in Motion, unveiled

2009.05.26 Inauguration of new bus body shop and expanded Legendre garage

2009.07.14 STM makes bus and métro schedules available by cell phone

2009.09.01 STM network only accepts electronic forms of fare payment (OPUS and magnetic fare cards)

2009.09.14 Elevators are put into service at Berri-UQAM and Lionel-Groulx stations

2009.09.30 STM’s first articulated buses are introduced into service

2010.03.10 STM social media debut with Facebook and Twitter accounts

2010.03.29 Introduction of 747 – Express bus service between downtown and Montréal-Trudeau Airport

2010.05.03 New visual identity unveiled by STM

2010.08.30 Launch of 10 minutes MAX network on 31 bus routes

2010.10.05 STM wins award as Outstanding Public Transit System in North America from American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

2010.10.22 Contract to build 468 MPM-10 métro railcars awarded to Bombardier-Alstom consortium

2011.06.15 Presentation of the improved nighttime bus network

2011.10.04 The artwork La Voix lactée is given to the Paris Métro

2011.11.27 150th anniversary of public transit in Montréal

2011.12.22 STM breaks the record of 398 349 773 trips set in 1947

2012.01.09 Creation of five large clusters for bus services and renumbering of 26 bus lines

2012.03 New métro control centre becomes operational

2012.04.12 STM receives two Mercuriades awards from the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) for raised productivity and sustainable development

2012.05.16 Unveiling of AZUR as name of new métro cars 

2012.06.13 Launch of Les Étoiles du métro initiative (artists chosen through auditions)

2012.08.24 Establishment of online marketing research panel My voice, my STM

2012.09.06 Launch of iBUS project for surface transit information in real-time

2012.12.17 Creation of a first service point for the homeless at Place-des-Arts station

2013.06.04 Introduction of first interactive digital transit shelter

2013.10 First bike shelter with controlled access opens at Lionel-Groulx station

2013.11.22 Launch of City Mobility project for fully electric buses

2013.11.25 First AZUR train prototype unveiled at La Pocatière

2014.01.06 Grand opening of Stinson bus garage

2014.04.28 Delivery of first AZUR train prototype in Montréal

2014.06.12 Opening day of APTA’s international Rail Conference in Montréal

2014.08.11 Establishment of a first bus-taxi-bike reserved lane on rue Viau

2014.11.10 Square-Victoria station becomes Square-Victoria–OACI station

2014.11.26 Wireless network covers a first stretch of the métro system

2015.10.02 New signage rolled out in first métro stations  

2015.10.22 Stinson bus garage is certified LEED Gold

2016.02.07 A first AZUR train begins passenger service

2016.08.19 Retirement of first MR-63 métro cars begins

2016.10.11 Announcing additional elevators for 14 more stations by 2022

2016.10.14 The Montréal métro celebrates its golden jubilee

2017.05.15 UITP World Public Transport Summit opens in Montreal

2017.05.24 Electric buses begin service as part of the Cité Mobilité project

2018.01.09 Announcement of the acquisition of 300 additional hybrid buses

2018.06.21 End of service of the original MR-63 train

2018.10.12 The inaugural métro car makes its debut at the Exporail Museum

2018.11.12 Unveiling of the Bellechasse underground transportation centre concept

2019.03.18 Construction begins on Pie-IX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

2019.06.13 Montréal métro becomes a national historic civil engineering site

2019.11.11 Acquisition of a first long-range electric bus

2019.11.22 Montréal buses celebrate their 100th anniversary

2020.03.12 Buses, métro and paratransit remain open during the pandemic

2020.12.03 Montréal métro is fully connected to the mobile network

2021.05.31 Opening of the new entrance building of the Vendôme multimodal hub

2021.06.22 Testing of an electric minibus for paratransit

2022.06.17 Inauguration of the Côte-Vertu underground garage for the métro

2022.10.15 Pet dogs allowed in the métro under certain conditions

2022.11.03 Inauguration of the Pie-IX BRT; service begins on November 7

2022.11.05 Call for tenders for the construction of the Blue line extension tunnel

2023.07.01 Start of free admission for Montrealers aged 65 and over

2023.07.31 The bus network is modified for the opening of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM)